Coronary Heart Disease Exercises

Coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease, is a circulatory condition in which the arteries of the heart become blocked by fatty plaques. CHD increases the chances of serious health problems like heart attacks, and can cause other symptoms like shortness of breath and numbness in the legs. Regular exercise can help alleviate the impact of CHD and reduce the chances of serious complications.

Walking

• The best way to reduce the impact of CHD is to raise your cardiovascular fitness level, which will strengthen your heart and lungs and raise overall endurance. One of the best and most accessible cardio workouts is walking. Even those with sedentary lives who have rarely engaged in physical activity can normally walk without difficulty. Walking at a brisk pace for at least 30 minutes a day will promote heart health. Your goal when walking should be to maintain a heart rate between 50% and 70% of your maximum heart rate. (Maximum heart rate is the fastest speed your heart beats when at a peak state of exertion, such as a dead sprint.) By sustaining an elevated heart rate, you will force your heart to become stronger in order to adjust to the strain.

Other Cardio Exercise

• Walking is a great cardio activity because it is low impact and almost anyone can do it with little or no equipment. One drawback is that the benefit will be reduced if the pace is not brisk enough to sustain a high heart rate. Alternative cardio activities with higher intensity such as jogging, swimming and bicycling may build endurance and heart strength faster than walking. Strenuous hiking or stair climbing are also great ways to promote heart health. Essentially any activity which can elevate the heart rate for 30 minutes or more is a candidate for improving heart health. Yoga is also an activity that should be considered, as it can improve flexibility, muscle tone and endurance, while working the heart.

Useful Activities

• Even if you can't get rigorous physical activity into your schedule every day, other physical activities that are less demanding can have health benefits. Moderate physical exercise such as walking for pleasure, biking slowly, doing household chores, gardening and dancing can promote better heart function over time. Similarly, sports that work the heart and muscles have significant benefits. Sports that involve constant running such as basketball, soccer and ultimate Frisbee are especially helpful. Activities with less movement like baseball, racquetball and golf will have a lesser impact on heart health.